Why recovery happens at a different pace in every animal
The same protocol, a different pace. What this difference says about your animal’s biology.
NGD Care | Stefan Veenstra, DVM
In practice, we often hear this. One dog starts with an intestinal or skin protocol and within two weeks owners see clear improvement. Another dog follows exactly the same trajectory, but only after two months does there start to be movement.
That is not a failure of the protocol. That’s biology.
— NGD Care · Integrative Veterinary Medicine
The gut microbiome: the ecology of recovery
The gut microbiome is not a simple list of bacteria, but a complete ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeasts and their waste products. Together they determine how the immune system reacts, how much inflammation is present, how many nutrients are absorbed and how many neurotransmitters (signaling substances for the nervous system) are produced.
A dog with a relatively stable microbiome can often respond quickly to support. But an animal with years of dysbiosis (disturbed bacterial balance), antibiotic history or long-term medication use simply needs more time before the system comes back into balance.
The proteome: what the body actually does
In addition to the microbiome, the proteome also plays a role. The proteome is the total amount of protein that the body produces at any given time. These proteins control virtually all processes in the body, from inflammatory responses and enzyme activity to hormone regulation and detoxification.
Two dogs with the same diagnosis can therefore be in a completely different state biologically. One dog has a mild activation of the immune system, while the other has been in a state of low-grade inflammation for years with elevated cytokines (signaling substances that drive inflammation).
Mitochondria: recovery costs energy
Recovery takes energy. Intestinal cells have to renew, immune cells have to react, skin has to repair and the liver has to detoxify. All these processes require ATP, the fuel produced by the mitochondria, the energy factories of the cell.
Why recovery can be slower
When the mitochondria are weakened by chronic inflammation, an accumulation of toxic substances, long-term medication use, oxidative stress (damage due to an excess of free radicals) or aging, recovery is often slower. Sometimes the energy management must first improve before a protocol can have a visible effect.
Stress and living environment
Chronic stress increases the stress hormone cortisol. Long-term elevated cortisol levels affect, among other things, the permeability of the intestinal wall, the composition of the microbiome and the balance of the immune system. A dog that lives in a stable, quiet environment often reacts differently to therapy than a dog that constantly experiences tension or overstimulation.
Age and duration of symptoms
The age of an animal and the duration of the symptoms also affect the speed of recovery. With age, the diversity of gut bacteria often decreases, the capacity of the mitochondria decreases, and oxidative stress increases.
The duration of complaints makes a substantial difference. Long-term symptoms can lead to changes in tissue structure, epigenetic adaptations (changes in how genes are read, without changing the DNA itself) and chronic activation of inflammatory processes. The longer a problem is present, the more time the body needs to rebalance the system.
Genetic predisposition also plays a role in this. Some breeds have a stronger sensitivity to inflammation or other fatty acid metabolism.
Nutrition and absorption
Not only the quality of food is important, but also the question of whether the body can actually digest and absorb this food. Factors such as gastric acid production, digestive enzymes from the pancreas and the health of the intestinal wall play a major role in this.
Puppies born by caesarean section or given antibiotics early in life may develop a different microbial basis. As a result, they are sometimes more susceptible to allergies, skin problems or fatigue, even without obvious intestinal complaints.
The factors that determine the rate of recovery
|
Microbiome
State and diversity of the intestinal flora
|
Proteome
Topical protein production and inflammation
|
|
Mitochondria
Energy management and recovery capacity
|
Genetic predisposition
Breed sensitivities and fatty acid metabolism
|
|
Stress & living environment
Cortisol, routine, overstimulation
|
Age & duration of the complaint
Duration and depth of the disturbance
|
|
Nutrition & absorption
Quality and digestibility
|
Medication history
Antibiotics, corticosteroids, anti-inflammatories, insecticides
|
What does this mean in practice?
When an animal does not respond immediately to a protocol, it does not mean that it does not work. It means that recovery is a complex process that involves multiple systems at once.
The first signs of recovery are often subtle: better sleep, calmer behavior or a milder form of the symptoms. These are the first signs that the system is moving towards recovery.
Sometimes more is needed than just the protocol. Additional therapy can speed up recovery, such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, ozone therapy, gold acupuncture, laser therapy or sometimes temporary use of regular medication.
Conclusion
From integrative and system-oriented veterinary medicine, we develop our protocols as carefully as possible. Yet there is no universal protocol that works in exactly the same way for every animal.
Every animal is a unique biological system. The microbiome, the proteome, the mitochondria, the genetic predisposition, the stress level, age, the diet and the living environment together determine how quickly recovery can take place.
Comparing with other animals is not biologically useful. Guiding with insight, patience and customization is.
If a protocol does not have sufficient effect on your animal, please feel free to contact us.
Microbiome
Integrative Veterinary Medicine
Recovery
Gut health
This text is intended as general information and does not replace individual veterinary advice. If in doubt, always contact your veterinarian.
NGD Care | Stefan Veenstra, DVM